Davie Rolling Out Pilot Program

Recycling Containers To Be Used At Bamford Park

Davie is rolling out bottle-shaped recycling containers at various areas throughout Bamford Park in hopes residents will do their part to help the environment.

Given the high volume of residents the park attracts and having a recycling drop-off already on site made Bamford the ideal spot to try out the new program.

The park, at 3801 S. Pine Island Road, is the center of the town's organized sports, with ball fields, soccer fields, basketball courts, a multipurpose center, fitness center and Olympic-sized pool. However, there are no recycling containers in the park. Program manager Susan Dean took notice of this, spending months filing paperwork and finding funds to start the pilot recycling program.

Other town officials have seen an increase in recycling since the addition of the drop-off site last year. Numbers are projected to rise once these new containers have been placed and word gets out.

The containers, 57 inches high and 20 inches in diameter, will be emptied by the Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida Troop 11102 two to three times a week. The Girl Scouts will be compensated with volunteer hours and donations to their organization.

"It's a novel way of making sure the containers are taken care of," Dean said. "They usually use Public Works [to empty containers], but this gives the kids some hands-on participation. It will also indirectly save Public Works some time and maybe even money."

They ordered 10 black and silver containers. An agreement was reached with the county for $5,800 in recycling grant funds. The money will go to the cost of the containers, signage for the program, educational materials and the Girl Scout donations.

Dean hopes the unique shape of the containers will inspire children to participate.

"It's a big attraction for them to use," she said. "The adults at the fitness center, since we do sell sodas there, I think that is the perfect place for it. I'm very optimistic about this."

If the initial five containers are successful, the extra ones will be brought out for use there or at other parks.